You'll never win anything with kids!
Heckingbottom
I suppose we can assume that Hecky has at least three more matches as manager. After that - who knows? Maybe Mr Zedan does but that is still a matter for conjecture. Whatever we have a right to expect a performance with some commitment and energy on Wednesday.
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2011
- Messages
- 6,509
Yeah I've mentioned this before that one of the issues with a back 3/5, is if things aren't going well, it's an easy target for criticism.The NTT20 lads did say this on his appointment actually.
I just think tactically he's easy to work out.
I do struggle to understand why managers play boring/back 5 crap and don't play youngsters when there's nothing to play for. It means you get fired quicker.
Both factors have such sway when the going gets tough. I remember asking Peterborough fans why they liked the clueless Darren Ferguson on the train once and their answer was actually really good: all the managers at that level are boring back 5 merchants who rely on 30 odd year olds. Ferguson is gung ho and gives kids a chance.
Obviously it doesn't help if you are getting battered every week but it would create more patience if the football was good and we were blooding academy players.
It's the same with teams who always set up defensively. If things aren't going well, it doesn't take long for favour to turn, because the only thing that keeps people on board when the football is poor to watch, is getting results. Whereas if you play what's deemed to be more attractive football, but you aren't getting results, people are more likely to be a bit more patient.
It's a results based business, but it's entertainment too.
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2009
- Messages
- 11,310
It's a results based business, but it's entertainment too.
He fails more often than not on both fronts.
I’m not Heckingbottom’s biggest fan but realistically most people would say we have 4 maybe 5 players capable of being in a top 6 side, we’ve had the same budget more or less since we got promoted and this season he had to sign 14/15 players with a net spend of 1mil with no notable sales. So if our squad doesn’t even have half a team capable of making top 6 is it possible that maybe the squad just isn’t good enough and Hecky can’t work miracles?
I’d love to see us play with a back 4 and be more attack minded but we concede enough goals with 3 cb’s so going to 2 isn’t going to have the effect people think it will until we sign a better cb pairing
I’d love to see us play with a back 4 and be more attack minded but we concede enough goals with 3 cb’s so going to 2 isn’t going to have the effect people think it will until we sign a better cb pairing
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2010
- Messages
- 3,613
hecky should and will be given a chance next season, he's done great stuff with fuck all budget so let's see what he does when he has some. He already said if he had budget he wouldn't play a back 5.
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2016
- Messages
- 13,359
Our season ended at Charlton for me, I actually chose to make other plans on Saturday specifically to avoid going to Deepdale for the first time in my life I think.
I don't even particularly dislike Hecky, if anything I think he seems a decent bloke but the football is so fucking boring especially at home. I'm so sick of this dreadful system we've used for the last 5/6 years.
Checked the score about 6pm and just rolled my eyes and carried on with my day. Bring on Zedan and hopefully he can inject a bit of life into this club.
I don't even particularly dislike Hecky, if anything I think he seems a decent bloke but the football is so fucking boring especially at home. I'm so sick of this dreadful system we've used for the last 5/6 years.
Checked the score about 6pm and just rolled my eyes and carried on with my day. Bring on Zedan and hopefully he can inject a bit of life into this club.
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2019
- Messages
- 53,867
Went on Saturday. Given how awful we were against a team battling relegation, Saints will humiliate us. So I've arranged to go to Donington again on the 2nd. 3rd year in a row I've not bothered with the final game of the seasonOur season ended at Charlton for me, I actually chose to make other plans on Saturday specifically to avoid going to Deepdale for the first time in my life I think.
I don't even particularly dislike Hecky, if anything I think he seems a decent bloke but the football is so fucking boring especially at home. I'm so sick of this dreadful system we've used for the last 5/6 years.
Checked the score about 6pm and just rolled my eyes and carried on with my day. Bring on Zedan and hopefully he can inject a bit of life into this club.
It's my youngest's birthday party on the 2nd but I've been given the wife's blessing to go to the game. Now I'm really fucked. I'm gonna have to go to Deepdale, the alternative doesn't bare thinking about.Went on Saturday. Given how awful we were against a team battling relegation, Saints will humiliate us. So I've arranged to go to Donington again on the 2nd. 3rd year in a row I've not bothered with the final game of the season
It's my youngest's birthday party on the 2nd but I've been given the wife's blessing to go to the game. Now I'm really fucked. I'm gonna have to go to Deepdale, the alternative doesn't bare thinking about.
You'd be better off enduring the birthday party.
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2009
- Messages
- 11,310
hecky should and will be given a chance next season, he's done great stuff with fuck all budget so let's see what he does when he has some. He already said if he had budget he wouldn't play a back 5.
Really?!?!
The negatives far outweigh the positives in my eyes.
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2025
- Messages
- 242
Exhibit number 1:hecky should and will be given a chance next season, he's done great stuff with fuck all budget so let's see what he does when he has some. He already said if he had budget he wouldn't play a back 5.
Lang 2.5M
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2008
- Messages
- 7,044
Please can you enlighten me on the great stuff he’s done , players seem to have gone backwards in form especially the ones he’s signed , negative tactics, wedded to one system almost every game , doesn’t seem to know what his best team is , substitutions never seem to work, motivation in many games almost non existent. I look forward to your reply .🤔hecky should and will be given a chance next season, he's done great stuff with fuck all budget so let's see what he does when he has some. He already said if he had budget he wouldn't play a back 5.
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2019
- Messages
- 3,663
If you look at Heckingbottom’s managing record it’s been littered with long winless runs and sudden slumps he’s failed to turn around . Most other clubs have got rid of him or he’s left after just one of those runs . For some reason we’ve kept him on despite his awful points per game return . It’s a mystery to me why or how he’s still here except maybe to keep the bench warm for the new owners pickPlease can you enlighten me on the great stuff he’s done , players seem to have gone backwards in form especially the ones he’s signed , negative tactics, wedded to one system almost every game , doesn’t seem to know what his best team is , substitutions never seem to work, motivation in many games almost non existent. I look forward to your reply .🤔
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2022
- Messages
- 6,331
He is also their only manager who has got them promoted from League one - Three times.The NTT20 lads did say this on his appointment actually.
I just think tactically he's easy to work out.
I do struggle to understand why managers play boring/back 5 crap and don't play youngsters when there's nothing to play for. It means you get fired quicker.
Both factors have such sway when the going gets tough. I remember asking Peterborough fans why they liked the clueless Darren Ferguson on the train once and their answer was actually really good: all the managers at that level are boring back 5 merchants who rely on 30 odd year olds. Ferguson is gung ho and gives kids a chance.
Obviously it doesn't help if you are getting battered every week but it would create more patience if the football was good and we were blooding academy players.
Or maybe because the people in charge realise the squad isn’t anything special and finishing mid table isn’t bad considering the lack of investment?If you look at Heckingbottom’s managing record it’s been littered with long winless runs and sudden slumps he’s failed to turn around . Most other clubs have got rid of him or he’s left after just one of those runs . For some reason we’ve kept him on despite his awful points per game return . It’s a mystery to me why or how he’s still here except maybe to keep the bench warm for the new owners pick
16th/17th isn't mid-table, can you see us getting any more points?Or maybe because the people in charge realise the squad isn’t anything special and finishing mid table isn’t bad considering the lack of investment?
We survived by the skin of our teeth last season.
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2004
- Messages
- 28,455
16th/17th isn't mid-table, can you see us getting any more points?
We survived by the skin of our teeth last season.
In the context of the season, we are nowhere near either a promotion or relegation battle. Seems pretty reasonable to call it mid table.
I'd call it bottom half again, as well be closer to the drop than 6th after 46 games. An improvement on him nearly relegating us though. Fair play.In the context of the season, we are nowhere near either a promotion or relegation battle. Seems pretty reasonable to call it mid table.
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2004
- Messages
- 10,577
Why can’t we move from an attitude of “not bad” to “fucking amazing”?Or maybe because the people in charge realise the squad isn’t anything special and finishing mid table isn’t bad considering the lack of investment?
I refuse to believe there isn’t an outstanding manager available out there to perform much better than the dross we’ve endured over the last 5+ years.
Settling for someone like Heckingbottom, who’s had two years to achieve fuck all, is one of many things that hold us back.
The only thing keeping him here appears to be a fear that someone else might be worse.
It’s fucking maddening. Everything is “that’ll do”. How about some genuine aspiration for something better for a change.
And before anyone asks, no, I have no idea who this genius manager is and it’s not my job to find them. Look to the Chief Exec paid a small fortune in salary for that.